Black Plague

Chapter 12

The next couple months I scanned everyone's thoughts, looking for the Chamber of Secrets. I was shocked when I learned it was a Weasley. Who knew the little Weasley girl had it in her. Well technically she didn't. She was possessed by a diary. Tom Riddle's diary. Once I found that out I began scanning her every chance I could get. She was obsessed with me. Eww. I would never date a Weasley. I learned what was petrifying people, a Basilisk. I wasn't entering that chamber. I didn't need to die. I began reading in the abandoned second floor bathroom, instead of my bed, waiting for him. Moaning Myrtle tried to cry to me a couple times, but I mostly nodded and agreed. Or ignored her. Finally Ginny came in. I smiled "hi Tom"
She stopped and looked at me surprised. "How do you know?" I smiled. "She doesn't know Occlumency. Though I think I'm getting pretty stealthy. Hopefully she didn't feel a thing. It took a couple months to find the Chamber." She lifted her wand at me and I chuckled. "No need to be alarmed. I'm not interested in fighting. I mostly just want to pick your brain."
Tom slowly walked over with great poise, and sat down. "What do you want to know?" I smirked. "Everything. Well, everything you will tell me. You don't have to tell me any secrets. But, I could use a mentor." He frowned. "Aren't you supposed to be Dumbledore's golden boy?" I burst out in a fit of laugher. "I will be nobodies pawn. And I'm never going to be a light wizard. But I won't be your pawn either. I will either work along side you, or kill you. I don't care which." I shrugged.
"Wow, you're nothing like everyone thinks." I smiled and began petting Diablo. "Master who is that?" I looked down and smiled. "That's Lord Voldemort" Voldie jumped "you speak parseltongue?" He asked almost accusingly. I nodded. "It seems to be a gift you passed on to me, when you tried to kill me as a baby."
He grabbed my book on mind magic. It was mostly about creating false memories and creating advanced memory blocks. Another pick from the book shop owner. "Wow, are you able to do this?" I shrugged. "I seemed to be able to. I have only used a few mind blocks on student to test it out. And I made some memories, but I haven't had extensive practice. Not yet at least."
He flipped through the book "this is really advanced. Most 7th years can't do this." I raised an eyebrow at him. "I know. But you are hell bent on killing me. I spent all my time studying, in case I have to fight you in few years. If you're the most powerful wizard of all time, I'm not going to beat you with Expelliarmus." I scoffed.
Tom laughed. "No, definitely not... Tell you what, if you promise to stand on my side I'll train you." I smiled. "Great. But you should know your older self went a bit crazy, and if he is brought back, he's probably not going to work with me. So, I can't make an unbreakable vow." I told him seriously. "Really? Tell me everything you know about me." I sighed. "Not much. I wasn't raised in the Magical world. You killed my mom and tried to kill me but it backfired and you disappeared. I was sent by Dumbles to live with my Magic hating relatives. They starved and beat me. And made my life a living hell. So I just entered the Wizarding world for the first time last year. I only know bits and pieces and what the history books say. But you basically killed indiscriminately, even your own followers. I don't even know what principles you were fighting for. Because you kind of went off the rails and just killed Muggles, muggle born and anyone that supported them."
His jaw hit the floor. "And you'd still stand with me? Even knowing this?"
I looked at him with dead serious eye. "Dumbles dropped me on my hateful families doorstep, where I had to steal to have even enough to eat, he's stolen thousands from my bank vault to fund his war, even though nothing has been happening, and he's trying to make me his happy little pawn. I will never be a follower of the light. Morals mean nothing to me. As long as I am in no danger, I will support you. And if I get glory and power, I will be even more happy to support you. But the moment you turn on me, I'm going to kill you. Without even having to think about it. Now, if you could maybe get a goal that would be even better."
Tom groaned. "I have lots of goals. Or I did. I want to keep Wizards and Muggles completely separate. I want to confiscate muggle born at their first accidental magic. Switch them out with Squib babies when we can. I want to reestablish Wizard beliefs and customs, I want to heighten the statute of secrecy. And I want dark magic taught in schools again. In most other schools they teach both dark and light magic. The UK are the only ones banning it. It leaves us weak amongst other wizard communities." I nodded. "I agree with all those things. See, I knew you had to have more goals then kill everyone including me."
He sighed. "I wonder why I went crazy?" I looked at him. "I don't know, but you looked like a snake humanoid cross too. Whatever you did really fucked you up."
Toms head fell back against the wall. "Great. And Why did I try to kill you as a baby?" I scrunched my face up trying to remember. "I think I heard something about a prophecy. I would be your equal and had the ability to kill you or something." He nodded.
"Well I'm losing energy, I need to give this girl her body back soon. You should probably get running off. I still need to let The beast out." I nodded and went to talk to Snape, that way he would have proof it wasn't me.

I knocked and walked in. He was grading essays. "What are you doing here?" He looked suspiciously. I shrugged. "I guess I have been thinking about giving you a second chance. But I don't know. I still don't think I can trust you. Especially if you're loyal to the Light Lord. But I have kind of missed spending time with you. I looked at you as the father I never had. As pathetic as it is." I laughed emptily. "You gave me guidance, seemed to care, and listened when I needed support. And I know I should walk away. You probably only did that to advance Dumbles cause, but part of me hopes that's not true. Fuck, I even told you I would probably be the next dark lord, and you didn't seem to judge me, or stop helping me learn more. And I thought you not running to Dumbledore was proof that you didn't follow him. I couldn't have been more wrong. Now, I guess I just don't know what to think." I felt my eyes prickle with unshed tears. Not now! I wouldn't cry infront of him.
"Come here." His low voice rumbled with the kindest tone I'd ever heard from him. I sighed and walked over to him. He pulled me into his lap. I was shocked. He had never touched me before. But that was all it took to completely tear down my tough facade, and I began to cry. I wanted him to love me so bad. I clung to his black waist coat and sobbed. Gods, I'm so pathetic. Yes, I'm twelve. But I've had to be strong my whole life. How could this one man break me down and wound me to the core? I knew the answer, I had trusted him, and maybe even loved him. And now I felt utterly betrayed.
"I'm sorry. I am not completely on the side of the light. But I am not on the dark either. I play both sides against each other for my benefit." I looked up him with teary eyes, my breath still catching from crying so hard. "If that's true, why would you want me to give the rock back? Wouldn't it be in your best interest to use it? Or get in the Dark Lords good graces by bringing him back? You still can't believe Dumbledore is going to win this. I mean fuck, I will make sure of it myself if I have to. Plus, the Dark Lord has way better ideas. Well, if we can make sure he doesn't go crazy again. Which is what I want to work on. I agree with all of his philosophies."
He looked shocked and suspiciously. "How do you know?" I gave a small shaky smile. "I talked to him for about an hour today. He's possessing people in order to let the Basilisk out of Slytherin's chamber. Well, a younger, saner version of him. If I can get him to come back, instead if the crazy snake guy that tried to kill me when I was a baby, it would do the wizard world a lot of good. He has great ideas. And he's said he will train me." I smiled a little bigger.
He looked at me shocked. "You want to work with the Dark Lord! Harry!" I sighed. "First please call me Hadrian, it's my actual name. Harry's a beacon of Hope for the light. Second, why does this shock you? I told you I probably would last year. And I have never gave you any reason to believe differently."
He sighed, "I don't know. I guess I was hoping you'd change your mind." I stiffened up. "See? You're thinking like a Light wizard again! You say you aren't on either side, but you clearly have picked a side." I was getting frustrated with his words not matching his actions. "this right here is why I can't trust you." He wrapped his arms around me as I tried to move away. "I apologies, you're right. I just remember what a monster he became." I groaned. "Then help me bring him back sane! He inhabits a book and uses it to posses people. If we can bring that part of Voldie back, it will help make the whole Dark side stronger and better. And if you need to use a magic stone to do it, I might know where to find one." I said with a small smirk.
"You do have the stone!" I giggled. "Well, I never said that. I said I might know where it is. I haven't checked if it's still where I last saw it. So, I probably know where it is. But let's be clear, even if I do know where to find it, I am never handing it over to Dumbles. Not now, not ever." I stared into his eyes defiantely.
"Ok, bring The Dark Lord next time you see him, I'll think of ways to bring him back." I smiled. "Thank you"
Sudden there was a large commotion coming from outside the room. I got up and we went to the hall. "Someone was petrified!" Snape looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I fought to keep the smirk off my face and shrugged.